You may like the idea of a fully automatic espresso machine but may not want to venture into their higher price range. It’s entirely reasonable to want to save a little bit of money when shopping for a coffee machine, while also wanting a product that is high-quality and brews to your liking.

The Delonghi EC680M Dedica is an undoubtedly well-made, efficient coffee machine that has the look and feel of some of its more sophisticated, expensive counterparts. It has a sleek, compact design that makes it perfect for a kitchen counter, and has an eye-catching stainless steel construction.

It can make straight espresso shots or can be used to create authentic foam with a built-in frother. It’s a little bit more expensive than similar coffee machines on the market, but is also easy-to-use, fast-brewing and has a 15 bar pump that ensures a delicious layer of crema on each shot it makes.

Is it Worth Your Money?

The Delonghi EC690M is priced a little higher than some other similar machines, but we also found it to be a sturdier, faster machine overall.

While it still is a manual coffee machine, we also felt that it was much easier to use than some of its competitors.

It also had a lot of little extras that weren’t essential to the overall brewing process but made using the machine that much more straightforward. From the illuminated control panel to the automatic standby function, the Delonghi EC680M is undoubtedly modern, but it also had a nostalgic feel that resembled more basic manual espresso machines.

Its coffee was also tasty, creamy and the brewing time was impressive. Whether you make cappuccinos or regular espresso shots, you’ll find each drink to have a full-bodied café-style flavor. Considering how seamlessly the EC680M blended contemporary features with a classic brewing process, and how tasty its coffee was, you’ll find that the slightly higher price is entirely justified.

Review & Breakdown

Specifications

13 x 5.9 x 13 inches

9.3 pounds

Input Power: 1300W

Automatic Flow Stop

Material Stainless Steel

Cappuccino System

Bar Pump

Cup Warmer

Fast Heating

Cappuccino System

Manual Cappuccino System

Like most similar coffee machines, the EC680M has a built-in frother. It has a more extended nozzle that reaches deep into larger cups of milk and applies air and water for an entirely textured foam that you can use to top cappuccinos. Additionally, it can also pour hot water for use in making Americanos or steeping your favorite tea. Lastly, there is a built-in steam regulator that prevents the frother from getting too hot.

Bar Pump

15-Bar Pump

The power of an espresso machine’s pump is crucial because it is directly responsible for forcing water into the grounds. The EC680M has a 15-Bar pump built in, which seems to be the standard for a machine of this kind. However, we noticed that the crema on top of each espresso shot was thick, foamy and had a golden-tan color.

You’ll find that the pump consistently ensures that each layer or crema has the same consistency and flavor by applying the right amount of pressure each time. The machine also lets you know when you’re due for a descaling by way of an onboard alarm.

Cup Warmer

Built-In Cup Warmer

On top of the machine, you’ll find a built-in cup warmer. You’ll see this to be a great addition to parties where you may want to brew several shots at a time before serving them. It’ll enable you to keep cups warm while you brew, and efficiently keep drinks from cooling off before serving.

The heating platform was large enough to hold both small and large glasses and didn’t excessively heat each glass. However, you’ll only be able to place two glasses on the cup-warmer at a time.

Fast Heating

Fast Heating

Thanks to something called Thermoblock Technology, the EC680 can heat water in less than a minute. In about 40 seconds, the boiler will be hot enough to make your coffee. The self-priming system ensures that the machine is always ready to brew, so you won’t have to wait in the morning, or when you have guests over who are looking for an after dessert shot of espresso.

Our Verdict

In general, we liked the Delonghi EC680M Dedica. It is at the top of its class when it comes to manual espresso machines, and its sleek, compact design made it perfect for home use. We also found it to be reasonably intuitive and to brew professional quality espresso. We would have liked for it to be a little less noisy and for it to be a bit less leaky in between uses, but this didn’t severely impact the machine’s overall performance.

Another thing we would have liked to see improved was the startup and operation procedures. You’ll have to follow a manual to adjust specific settings like temperature, auto-off timer, and descaling alarm and at first, the steps were a little difficult to follow.

It might have driven up the price, but we would have liked for there to be a small LCD screen to show the user exactly which setting they were changing. As it stands right now, making adjustments to the machine can be a little confusing.

Other Alternatives

If you aren’t entirely sold on the EC680M Dedica, the Capresso Ultima Pro is a slightly moreexpensiveoption that accomplishes many of the same things. It has an illuminated control panel, options for single or double shots of espresso and also comes with a more substantial self-tamping filter that can brew either one or two cups of espresso.

Last but not least, it comes with a milk pitcher, two cups as well as a mini handheld frother. It’s a little bit larger than the Delonghi model, but if you aren’t necessarily concerned with counter space, the Capresso Ultima Pro is probably worth a look.

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